Light-signal.



LIGHT saGNAL.

RPPLICATIGN FILED )ULY 5.191?.

Patented Sep@ 24, 191s.

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IN VEN TOR;

A T/ORNEYS.

.E. I. BLAKE. LIGHT SIGNAL. nPrLlcATloN FILED suns. w11.

Patented sept. 24,1918f VII, A

BY @www i A TTORNEYS.

E. LBLAKE.'

LIGHT SIGNAL.

APPLICATIO FILED lULY 5. |911.

PatentedSept. 24, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3. F 1.5.10. A

A n m T T A m m ww L w 3 u. n A n f. L a L C d 1 a T 1 A n Lw, MM a a Aff v 4 EL N/ UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

ELI J'. BLAKE, 0F BUFFALO, NEW YORK,-ASSIGNOR T0 HALL SWITCH t SIGNAL CO., A CORPORATION 0F MAINE.

LIGHT-SIGNAL.

Application filed July 5, 1917.

To all/whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, ELI J. BLAKE, a citizen of the United States` residing at l 247 Norwood avenue, in the city of u'a o, county of Erie and State of New YorkV have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Light-Signals, of which the following is a specification.

It has been the practice heretofore to build railroad signals:` of two distinctive classes, one being of the type known as semaphore signals comprising a moving element adapted to give a position indication and the other consisting of a light signal by means of which indications are given by either changing the color or some other physical property of the beams of light emitted lby the signal.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a light signal which will overcome the defects encountered in the types of signals now in use. One object being to provide asingle light signal which is adapted to change its color or other characteristic indications with a minimum consumption of energy.

Another object is to provide a signal of extreme simplicity in operation and which has small li ht movable members which are practically ree from mechanical wear.

A further object is to provide a light signal which will employ only one source of light and one emitting surface or area, but which will nevertheless change the character of the rays of light emitted t0 give the necessary indications.

.A further object is to provide a light signal in which it is possible to use a reflector thereby retaining a maximum utilization of `the light emitted from the source without the danger of reflected light from extraneous sources giving false indications.

Another object is to rovide a. slgnal which will have controlling contacts and which will be adapted to operate direct from a feeble source of power such as a track circuit and thereby obviate the use of local sources of power and circuits.

Other features and valuable objects of the invention will be clearly understood from the accompanying specification and `from the appended claims.

Referring to the drawmgs in Figure 1--1 show a front elevation of a preferred form of mechanism suitable for the operation of my invention.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 24, 1918.

Serial No. 178,720.

Fig. l shows an adaptation of my inventionemploying reflectors entirely in its operation.

Fig. 5 is a cross section showing one form of construction of a complete signal.

Fig. 6 shows diagrammatically a simple means for operating the signal. Fig 7 shows a means for operating the signal inductively by alternating current.

Fie. 8 shows an operating mechanism for the slgna'l which may be operated by either direct or alternating current. Fig. 9 shows a front view of the operating Vmechanism shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 10 is a section of a modified arrangement of my invention'showing the same being operated directly by means of a standard three position traclr relay.

Fig. 11 is a section through A A in Fig.

10, showing the light filters and method of face in connection with suitable reflectors or Y lenses, 'bringing the r'ays to a concentrated pointand then allowing them to diverge to cover the diameter of a suitable light emitting surface which emits the rays in an a proxmately arallel beam or at any suitab e' angle, there y enabling a comparativel small Vand light filter or filters to be eflil ciently operated at or near the focal point to control the character of the rays emitted from the relatively large light emitting surface such as an objective lens.

Referring to'Figs. 5 and 9 the operation of the device is as follows:

An outer casing 1 is provided at its front end with an objective lens 2 and at the rear end with a reflector 3 and a light 4 so dis sed with relation to the reflector 3 that a arge percentage of the rays emitted from light 4 will be intercepted by the reflectorl` 3 and caused to converge to a conjugate focal point 5 and then diverge in order to cover the surface of the objective lens 2. It will be seen that by so relatively disposing the reflector 3, light 4 and objective lens 2, practically all the light refiected ma be caused to pass through the conjugate ocal point 5 and then diverge so that it will just cover the objective lens 2 which may be of any suitable ty e and of such a focus as to either bring tiie rays into parallel relation or so chan e the angle of divergence to give the desire covering power for any track conditions. The lamp 4 may be operated with energy through wires 6 `from any suitable source. Adjacent the focal point 5 a screen 7 is arranged with an aperture 8 adapted to coincide with the focal point 5, this aperture being made as small as possible without interfering with the refiected rays which pass from the re- 'flector through' the focal point. The object of this 'screen is to stop passage of direct rays from the light 4 to the objective lens' 2 without passing through the filters.

In the 3 position signal an operating mechanism 9 is provided which is adapted toassume two distinctive energized positions and a neutral denergized danger position The device shownv in Figs. 5 and 9 for this purpose comprises an opreating mechanism of a three positionldirect current motor relay.- Permanent magnets 10 and 11 are ar- `fion-'ung iron pole 'i creatin '--12 an liov 'gage the counterweights 25 and; 26. The

ranged with their respective like poles ad# a field 'o flux between the poles 13,- in which an armature 14 is adapted to rotate. Armature 14 is mounted upon a spindle 15.v and provided with a `simple winding las shown. Flexible connections 17 are provided to convey the curf rent from` a controlling source through wires 18 to the windingl 16. The shaft 15 has rigidly attached to it a filter carrying arm 19, carrying respectively red, green and yellow filters as shown at 20, 21 and 22 and also a downwardly extended arm 23, provided with a counter balance weight 24 adapted tol balance the weightof the filters 20, 21 and 22. -Loosely carried on the shaft 15 are two unterweights 25 and 26, which rest on insulated metal plates 27 and 28 which act as sto sfor the same. The armature 14 is provi ed with pins 29l and 30 adapted to enoperation of the mechanism -is as follows:

Current mayA be continuously applied at 6 to maintain light 4 burning as this light- `need never be extinguished. When no current ,is4 applied at 18, thereby leaving the armature 14 denergized, the counterwei hts GISl point'. It will be seen that the rays from vthe light 4 passing through the-conjugate pieces 12 and 1-3 thereby` lto the filter changing at the conjugate focal point 5.

e red filter 20 will navman i 1 9 to move toward the left thereby removing the red filter 20 and placing the yellow filter 22 opposite the aperture 8. This will change the color of the rays which impinge upon the objective lens 2 to give a yellow light signal indication. Upon the energy being discontinued at 18 the color of the rays will be again changed to red and upon energy being" applied at 18 in a reverse dlrection Vthe color of the indication will be Achanged as heretofore described to green. The counterweights 2 5 and 26 as shown may be caused to break clrcuits between their res ective contact plates 27 and 28 and there y control any other circuits desirable.

By providing the mechanismv with contacts in this manner it will be seen that this signal may be installed in kplace of the relays now employed to control thesignals.

Figs. 1, 10 and 11 show a modified form of thesignal in which the operating mechanism is placed below the case containlng the light and in which the filters are operated by means of a connecting rod 31. The mechanism disclosed in this drawing comprises whatlisknown as a three osition relay and the operating mechanism 1s identical to that shown in Fig. 9. The shaft 15 is provided with a crank pin 32 which will impart either an upward or downward movement to the connecting'link 33'in accordance with the direction of rotation. of the armature 14 from its neutral central osition o erating arm 34 and connection r 31`accor ingly. Arml 34 fis .connected to the' late 35 which is pivoted at points 36. n the opposite side of .this plate, mountd on insulated' studsv 37, contact fingers 38are carried which coperate with the front contacts 39 and back contacts 40. Connecting rod 31 connects arm 34 member '42. The mechanism as shown 1n the drawing is in the neutral or denergized position. red filter 41 being opposite the a erture 8 seen that upon the operation of this'mechanism thecontacts 39and 40 will be opened and closed according to the direction of current flowing in the armature and the connecting rod 31 will cause the filter carrying members 42 to oscillate about pivot 43 and either place the green filter 44 or yellow filter 45 opposite the aperture 8 as described heretofore,

The mechanism can be carried in asuitt will be The.

, Iable case 46 which` may be provided witira' anneau door 47 and an inspection glass 48 lthereby allowing the maintainer to inspect the contacts of the mechanism without interferingl with the operation of the signal., The refiector 3 and light 4 may also be mounted j in a suitable cover 49 which will swing open' on a pivot 50 and may be latched closed by means of a hasp 51. This enabling easy access to the reflector 3 for cleaning and to the 1ight`4 for replacements should the same burn out. At 52 a suitable lead is provided for carrying all the connecting wires through for the operation of the signal. vIn other details this form of the signal is identical to that shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 6 shows how the filters 20 and 21 may be operated by means of a simple electrolits armature 55 thereby movin magnet 53. The axis of the conjugate focal point is shown at 54 and it will be seen that upon energization or denergization of the magnet 53 it.I will either attract or release the red or green filter into the conjugate ocal point manner Iwell known in the art.

and also opening and closing contacts 56 and 57 f'or the control vof other circuits.

Fig. 7 shows diagrammatically a method whereby the signal may be controlled by means of alternating current.. An aluminum disk 58 is acted upon by a. two phase alternating current magnet 59 to cause the disk 58 to rotate either clockwise or counter clockwise according to the relative direction of the energy in the respective,` phases in a The disk 58 is provided with two pins 60 and 61 and rotates upon a spindle 62. Loosely mounted on `the spindle 62 are counter weights 63 and 64 so arranged vthat normally they will rest upon metallic stops 65 and 66 and also pins 60 and 61, thereby-retaining the disk 58 in the central position with the red filter 20 at the focal point. It will be seen that if the disk 58 has been caused to rotate in either one direction or the other vit will either raise counterweights 63 or 64 against gravity until it engages with its respectivev stop pin 67 or 68 thereby giving a greenor yellow light indication. When either counter weights 63 or 64 rise they will break circuit with their metallic stops 65 or 66 thereby Vcontrolling other electrlcal circuits. In Fig. 8 I have shown a method of o erating `my signal which comprises a combmation of two Z type mechanisms. The mechanisms are placed side by side with their spindles 69 and 70 in alinement. Rigidly attached to the spindles are lter carrying arms 71 and 72 and loosely mounted between these is a filter carr ing arm 7 On the under side of the red lter carried by arm 73 are two projections 74 and 75. When the Z type mechanism 76 is operated to rotate spindle in a counter clockwise direction it will raise arm 72,

thereby elevating the green filter into the conjugate focal point. This filter will engage With the projection 74 and push the red filter carried on arm 73 out of the focal point. When the mechanism is denergized both filters are allowed to fall, leaving the red filter in the position to give a red indication as before. Upon energizationof the ZA mechanism 77 the yellow filter will replace the red filter in like manner by engaging with projection 75.

Figs 2, 3 and 4 show diagrammatically poible combinations utilizing my invention. l j

In Fig. 2 I focus the 'source of vlight 80 through a conjugate focal point 5 in which y f point the filter 80 is operated by means of a suitable lens 81. The light diverging to cover the objective lens 2 and to be converted' into suitable indication giving rays. 85

In Fig. 3 I show diagrammaticall the embodiment which I have describe in connection with Figs. 5 and 10. In Fig. 4 I have shown the reflector 3 placed below the signal indication aperture. 'T he rays in this case are brought to a conjugate focal point upon a small mirror'82, the filter 20 being ar- -ranged to operate as nearly as possible atl point as it is Well known in the art that an l absolute point cannot be obtained.

It will further be understood that the filters may be operated in any desirable manner either manually, pneumatically, me-y chanically or by any other means. A

I do not wish to be restricted to the particular embodiments of the invention as disclosed but wish to cover the fundamental principle of the invention, which may be constructed in a variety of different manners to accomplish the `same purpose.

WhatI claim is:

1. 'In a light signal, a source of light, means for concentrating a large percentage j of the rays emitted by said source toacon-V 1120 jugate focal point in advance of the original source, color filters adjacent said focal point to modify the character of the rays passing through the focal point, operating means for selectively moving said color filters into the 12.5

path of the rays, and means interposed in the ath of the rays diverging from said foca point to change the path of the modifiedrays.

2. In a4 light signal, a source of light, 180

rays, and a screen adapted to prevent direct rays from the original source of light from implnging upon the last said means.

' 3. In a light signal, a source of light, means for concentrating a large percentage of the rays emitted by said source to a conjugate focal point in advance of` the original source,"olor filters adjacent said focal point to modify the character of the rays passing through the focal point, contacts, operating means for selectively moving said color filters into the path of the rays, and for operating said contacts, and means interposed in the path of the rays diverging from said focal pointI to change the path of the modified rays.

4. In a light signal, a source of light, means for concentrating a large percentage of the rays emitted by said source to a conjugate focal point in advance of the original source, color filters adjacent said focal point to modify the character of the rays passing through the focal point, contacts, operating means for selectively moving said color filters into the path of the rays,l and for operating said contacts, means interposed in the path of the rays diverging from said focal point to change the path of the modified rays, and a screen adapted to prevent direct rays from the original source of light from impinging upon t e last said means.

In a light signal, a mechanism case, a

concentracted source of li ht contained in said case, a reflector adapte to bring a large percentage of the rays emitted from said source to a conjugate focal point in advance of the original source, an opaque screen haying an aperture for the passage of rays at the conjugate focal point, filters adjacent said focal point to modify the character of rays passing through the focal point, operating mechanism in said case to selectively interpose said filters into the path of the rays, and a lensl interposed in the path of the rays diverging from said focal point to change the modified raysinto nearly parallel rays.

6. In a light signal, a mechanism case, a concentrated source of light contained in said case, a reflector adapted to bring a large percentage of the rays emitted from said source to a conjugate focal point in advance of the original source, an opaque screen having an aperture for the passage of rays at the conjugate focal point, filters adjacentsaid focal point to modify the character of rays passing'through the focal point, contacts, operating mechanism in said case to selectively interpose said filters into thepath of the rays, and adapted to operate said contacts,'and a lens interposed in the path of the rays, diverging from said focal point to change the modified rays into nearly parallel rays.

7. In a light signal, a concentrated source of light, meansto cause a large percentage of rays emitted from said source to converge at a second point of concentration to increase the relative intensity of the light Within a certain angle of dispersion, means to selectively modify the characteristics of sald rays adjacent the second point of concentratmn, and means to change the angle of dispersion of the modified rays.

8.l In a light signal, a concentrated source of light emitting rays at a greater angle than 180, means for causing a large percentage of the rays emitted topass through a second point of concentration and to disperse 'at a relatively smaller angle, mcansto modify the characteristics of the rays adjacent the second point of concentration, and means to intercept the modified rays to give a larger light emitting surface than at the second point of concentration.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification. 'c

ELI J BLAKE. 

